"Cultivating the Ages: The

Flourishing Journey of Corn's %

Evolution"

Presented By
Mary Grace M. Facularin
OUR FEATURE
Introduction
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Observation
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Discussion
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Conclusion
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 INTRODUCTIO
One of the most outstanding instances
N
of human creativity and selective
cultivation in the history of agriculture is
corn, also known scientifically as Zea mays.
Teosinte, a common grass that first
appeared in Mesoamerica thousands of
years ago, has developed into a diverse and
important staple crop that currently
provides food for millions of people all over
the world.
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 Peek from the Past
Teosinte (Zea spp.) is a type of wild
grass native to the Americas, primarily
.
found in Central America and Mexico. It is
considered the wild ancestor of modern
maize, or corn (Zea mays), and is a vital
plant in the study of crop evolution and
domestication.
Teosinte’s research has shed light on
the genetic alterations that took place
during the domestication of maize and
provided insights into the complex process
of turning wild plants into useful crops. This
wild grass provides a real-world example of
how human interference has profound
effects on plant evolution and the genetic
underpinnings of domestication. 2
COMPARISON OF THE
TWO
Based on my study of teosinte
and actual observation of a corn
plant, it is clear that there are
numerous differences between
the two, especially in terms of
their physical characteristics, such
as the shape and size of their
kernels, cobs, husks, and tillers.

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 02
01

TEOSINTE CORN
 The tassel is the male flower of the
 Teosinte tassels are usually smaller
corn plant and is located at the top
and less compact than those of
of the plant. It produces pollen,
cultivated maize.
 They emerge at the top of the plant which is essential for pollinating
the female flowers.
and produce pollen.
 The female flowers are found on
 Teosinte tassels may have a more
the ears.
open and branched structure
compared to the dense tassels of
maize.

TASSELS 4
 TILLERS 02

CORN
01  Maize plants usually produce a
single main stem which is tall,
TEOSINTE sturdy stalks that can grow several

 Wild teosinte forms often have feet in height.

 The stalks are typically divided into
multiple lateral shoots emerging
from the base of the plant, forming a nodes and internodes.

bushier growth habit.

 These tillers can produce additional
cobs or seed-bearing structures.

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 01 HUSKS 02

CORN TEOSINTE
 Teosinte husks are less tightly
 The husks are usually tightly
wrapped around the ear compared
wrapped around the ear, providing
to maize.
protection for the developing kernels.
 The husks may be shorter and
 The husks are typically long and
more open, allowing parts of the
green, forming several layers that
ear to be visible.
cover the ear.

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 02
01

CORN TEOSINTE
 In Teosinte, the arrangement of

 The arrangement of silks is usually silks is generally more open and

organized in rows. Each row of silks spread out compared to maize.

corresponds to a row of kernels on This is because teosinte ears are

the cob. typically longer and more

branched, with fewer kernels per
ear.

SILKS 7
 01 COBS 02

TEOSINTE CORN
 In cultivated maize, the cobs are
 Teosinte cobs are longer and more
typically compact and located at the
branched compared to the compact
tops of the stalks.
cobs of maize.
 The cobs are generally uniform and
 The cobs of teosinte may not be as
visually distinct from the rest of the
densely packed with kernels, and
plant.
they often have a more open
structure.

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 01 KERNELS 02

CORN TEOSINTE
 Teosinte seeds are encased in hard,
 Kernels are arranged in rows on the
stony coverings, making them less
cob.
 The arrangement of kernels on the suitable for human consumption. In
contrast, maize has larger, more
cob can provide insight into the
easily removable kernels.
genetics and breeding of the corn
variety.

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SHREDS OF EVIDENCE
The story of how corn (Zea mays) evolved from its
unassuming wild predecessor, teosinte, is a compelling one
that has been brought together by the coming together of
numerous lines of evidence. These empirical threads fit
together like pieces of a puzzle to create a vivid picture of
the evolutionary process, showing the creativity and
intentional interventions of ancient cultures.

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 01

Archaeological Evidence
 Archaeological excavations have uncovered ancient
corn cobs and kernels in various Mesoamerican sites,
providing direct evidence of the plant's evolution.
 The earliest known evidence of domesticated corn
dates back around 9,000 years to the Balsas River
valley in Mexico.

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 01

Archaeological Evidence
 The study "Archaeological evidence for the emergence of
maize agriculture in the Central Balsas River Valley,
Mexico" by Piperno and Flannery from 2001 validated
this evidence.
 The researchers analyzed ancient maize cobs and The two oldest maize cobs in the
kernels, providing crucial insights into the early stages New World are from Guilá Naquitz
Cave. The cob at the bottom is from
of maize domestication. excavation square D10 and is about 2.5
cm long. The cob at the top is from
square C9.
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 02
Comparison with Wild
Ancestors
 Teosinte, a wild grass native to Central
America, is considered the closest wild relative
of corn. Genetic and morphological studies
have shown that modern corn shares a common
ancestry with teosinte.

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 02
Comparison with Wild
Ancestors
 The study “Early isotopic evidence for maize as a
staple grain in the Americas” by Kenneth DJ et al.,
2004 supported this evidence.
 By analyzing carbon isotopes in ancient maize samples,
this study contributed to understanding the geographic
Map showing the location of MHCP and
origin of maize domestication. ST relative to archeological sites in
Mesoamerica with early maize, Classic Period
Maya sites with dated inscriptions, and
paleoenvironmental sequences.
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 03
Genetic Evidence
 DNA analysis has provided strong evidence of the
evolutionary relationship between corn and teosinte.
 Genetic studies have revealed that specific genes
responsible for traits like kernel size and the structure
of the cob have been selected and modified through
domestication.
Genes located in introgression regions
differentiate highland and lowland Mexican
maize and are enriched for high-effect SNPs.
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 03
Genetic Evidence
 According to study entitled “Genetic characterization "and
population structure of maize populations using SSR markers“ by
G.B. Adu et al., 2019 validated this evidence.
 This study utilized molecular markers to analyze the genetic
diversity of maize and teosinte populations. It provided insights
into the relationships between different varieties and the genetic
contributions of teosinte to modern maize.
Unrooted UPGMA clustering of
maize populations developed for
tolerance to drought and Low-N., using
the Jaccard similarity coefficient.
16
 CONCLUSION
In conclusion, the development of maize (corn) is a
wonderful illustration of the influence that human intervention has
had on the evolution of plants. Teosinte was a wild grass that
indigenous Mesoamerican tribes used as a starting point for their
selection, cultivation, and adaptation processes over many
generations. Today's maize is a very diversified and adaptable crop.
The evidence, which includes genetic analysis and archeological
discoveries of old cobs, paints a clear picture of the gradual
morphological and genetic alterations caused by humans' intentional
acts.

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 ON
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 REFERENCES
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(Zea mays L.) from highland Mexico: new accelerator mass
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THANK
YOU